PCC approves decision to co-locate Wells police station with fire

Wells residents and the surrounding communities could see their local police station co-located with Wells fire station after Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Sue Mountstevens approved the preferred decision at her recent Police and Crime Board.

Wells police station, built in 1950, is oversized, underutilised and requires extensive refurbishment and the Constabulary have been looking for a new solution for their enquiry office, local policing and response teams.

A business case presented at the PCC’s recent Police and Crime Board on July 4, outlined the proposal which will be see a new purpose built £200,000 base for the local policing team with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service at their fire station on Burcott Road.

PCC Sue Mountstevens said: “The local communities of Wells continually tell me how important their neighbourhood policing team is to them and I am committed to ensuring a visible policing presence based in the city.

“The Chief Constable and I have visited the Wells fire station and feel it a visible and accessible location which meets both the needs of our officers and staff and most importantly our local residents. Co-locating with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue will enable us to retain our focus on frontline policing, make significant savings while still investing in the city’s policing presence. We both look forward to discussing our plans with Well’s City Council on July 26.”

In 2014, Avon and Somerset Constabulary identified Wells police station as needing a new base as part of its estates strategy and since then has been working on identifying and confirming an alternative location and arrangements for the services currently delivered from Wells.

Sue added: “Two years ago I stated I would review the Constabulary estate and reduce over-sized and under used police buildings by 36% by 2019/20 in order to focus funding on police officer and PCSO numbers. Wells police station is part of this review, to ensure policing continues to meet the needs of the local community in the city and is value for money.”

Detailed discussions will now take place between Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and the police to establish the logistics of the move. Avon and Somerset Police will then look to offer the current Wells police station to market, ensuring the police estates is sold for its maximum value, ensuring continued investment into frontline policing.